The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-02-23

And without further sympathy 0
question. Lefty passed on.
I've enough Of my own affairs TO al
tend to without troubling about othe
peoples thought Lefty. lifting her blu
eyes to the tree-teps with heavenl,
sweetness Of aspect.
Miss Willow was Just sitting down t,
her afternoon cup Of tea when Lefty
crossed the threshold
On, dear me, she said. I've jus
got rid Of one Of them, and here come
another
Dear Aunt Willow Lefty cries
dramatically iinging open her arms
Yes said Miss Willow, without NOV
ing. Sit down. Tell me what il al
means. 1 hope you don't expect t,
stay
This was certainly rather diseoursgiuG
bat Lefty smiled resolutely on II wa.
not possible that a little dried-up wo-
man. with hooked, biri-of-prey nos
and no visible teeth, could hold on, lous
against such pink and white fascination:
as hers.
She told her pathetic tale, inventiHg i
stern employer, a jealous forewoman
treacherous shopgirls, an cruel moth
er to help soften the heart Of her auditor.
may stay, dear aunt Willow she
murmured, clasping the pretty hands
that were dimpIed in every joint like a
baby's
Whv, I s'pose you'H have to for the
present" unwillingly conceded the old
lady. P'raps you can help round lit
tie and be useful now that Nell Kaye has
gone. But any girl that stays here has
pot TO earn her living that I give you
fair warning. Step lively, do your work
thoroughly, and mind yoIr 0 VI business
these are my three golden rules. And
mind you don't 90 prying and peeping
about. That's the only thing l can't
stand.
Lefty smil q sweetIy, and determined
that Aunt Willow. never should know
how much Of Mother Eyes weakness she
had inherited,
Its a dear delicious old house ~
thoughr she. And Tn determined to
find out every nook and corner IN st. OF
course there i some handsome young
farmland about for NE to practice on.
until I scrape acquaintance with the doe
tor and the parson, and all that set. I'm
sure Aunt Willow l. q miser, with loi
Of gold and jewelry hidden away some
where. I'm sure there's a mysterious
secret concealed in one Of these rooms
that she keeps locked up in the second
story. And I'm morally certain that
there's a ghost IN the cellar, OF a phan.
tom in the garret. Aunt Willows hor.
rid disagleeable old thing, she has never
once alluded 10 my eyes or praised my
complexion since have been here bat
never mind am determined to make
my way into her good graces I"
Thus Lefty laid siege to Fortress VII
low
1t vas the third night after her arrival
She and Miss Willow had differed in
some important particulars. aud Lefty
who was used 10 being spoiled and pet
ted. and having her own way, bad gone
upstairs in high dudgeon, slanming the
door behind her
She don't ike It" observed Aunt
Willow to herself Wei, she'll have 10
that's all
And the old lady tied her bald-eagle
head up in red silk pocket handker-
chief and made prompt and exhaustive
preparations for going to bed.
She had just finished, and was about
TO quit the room, when the sound Of a
fearful shrek rent the silence. and Lefty
came rushing into her presence
What's the matier2r said Miss VIII
low.
She was nervous and she didn't Ike
her nerves to be lightly upset.
It's IA man grasped Lefty. with
wide-0pen eves and cheeks ~ pale as
ashes And he has committed suicide
He has hanged himself in the Red
Chamber. that opens out Of the little
square hall"
Miss Willow had given little start at
first. but she speedily recovered her men
tai balance.
~Oh, indeed she said. And what
business, may ask. had you in the Red
Chamber, that always keep locked
Come, comet grasped Lefty ~oh
let some one cut the poor creature down
Atrocious wretch vigorously shaking
Miss Willow By the shoulder, what
dark conspiracy Is this"
Hoity-toity screeched Miss vii
low What's all this about? Didn't YOU
ever hear. young woman, Of the person
who got rich by minding his own busi-
ness
But nevertheless. she allowed herself
20 be dragged by main force mp the mar
row winding stairs to the wide open door
Of the Red Chamber, which bad hitherto
been sort Of a Bluebeari apartment,
sealed against Lettv's curious ewes by
uHcomprouiising lock and key.
There" grasped Lefty. breathles-
and paIlid, there
Yes. / See, said Miss Willow COM
po>eiIy adjusting her spectasles across
the bridge Of her nose
Won't you lift a finger to help him "
cried Lefty. Won't YOU cut him down ??
Wha for?r demanded Miss Willow.
What in the name of creation should /
cut down my old scarecrow for? stuffed
him up with a mask, and an old hat, and
one of Grandfather Willows suits. to
keep the crows out Of the spring corn
and | Just hung him here until the winter
wheat came around and ifyou had kept
your nose out Of other peoples rooms
you never would have taken him for a
suicide"
Lefty crimsoned and shank away OF
all things, she disliked being put in a
ridiculous light.
Now, see here eroaked Aunt Viii
low. looking more like ruffied bird oi
prey than ever: I've had enough OF
this. and I've had enough Of you. sent
Nell Kaye away because she presumed to